Botanica International Rated Hurdle

Grade 2 bumper winner at Leopardstown the season before last, and third in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at Punchestown; got off the mark over hurdles on fourth start at Fairyhouse; raced too keenly and paid the price when fading late into fifth in a novice contest at the Punchestown festival; capable of being in the mix in this company.

Won a Punchestown novice chase in December 2024; ran only twice last season; now set for a first hurdles start since jumping badly at Listowel in September 2023; had previously produced a career-best when winning a handicap at the Galway festival; hard to be confident about his prospects.

Winning hurdler; fair maiden on the Flat; useful form in small-field hurdle races in the first half of last season; should improve from a run in a handicap at the Punchestown festival; was one of the outsiders then, and made some late headway, plenty of horses behind him.

Won a maiden at this venue on debut last October; next two races were highly ambitious, in the Royal Bond and the Supreme Novices'; struggled in a conditions race at Cork last time; tongue-tie on now.

Went close against the useful Pure Steel on his only point start in 2024; had dropped away when falling at the last on hurdling debut at Cork last December; much more like it when making most to win at Tramore last month; fair chance now with his confidence boosted.